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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Can anyone help? BF baby suddenly changed ...

15 replies

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 11:14

My DD is Exclusively BF. Had difficulties in the beginning due to her being 9 weeks prem, then when we got bfing she could only feed of the right breast. However for the past5 weeks or so all been going well and she has been feeding off both breasts well.

I feed alternate breasts at each feed as she has never been interested in both at a single feed.

Last week she started to 'need' the right side after a feed on the left so I have got into the habit of offering her the right after each left hand feed. This has been fine and she doesn't seem to want/need the left side after a right hand feed.

I was a little concerned in case this meant that there was a supply prob with the left side but I checked at BF support group and the co-ordinator said all fine - just that one side may be 'premium'.

However since Wed she has been crying more than usual, feeding slightly more and ore often than not when she feeds on the left side she will cry before, during or after or at least wimper.

She is feeding from the left so def getting milk but I'm concerned that there is a problem with it.

I have considered that she may be going through a growth spurt - could this be the case?

Is crying at the breast - usually only the left tho - normal?

OP posts:

Original poster

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 12:21

bump

OP posts:

Original poster

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 15:23

Anyone? She isn't getting nay better.....any suggestions

OP posts:

Original poster

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 15:23

Anyone? She isn't getting nay better.....any suggestions

OP posts:

verylittlecarrot · 19/04/2008 15:27

Hi Rascal - how old is she now?

TheProdigalShow · 19/04/2008 15:30

If you are really concerned then contact a hv or gp. How is she otherwise? Lots of wet and dirty nappies?

I have to say my exclusively bf dd was exactly like this during a growth spurt and she took great exception to the left side (sometimes still does at 11 months) in particular. She would fuss at the breast, seem to push it away but then seem to want to feed again and on and on ad infinitum. She was also whingy, clingy and fed up. I used to ride it out, let her feed as much as she wanted, watch some films and eat lots of lovely treats until it was over.

The one around 16 weeks/4 months was the worst one and lasted the longest. This seems to be the case with lots of babies and often leads to premature weaning as people panic and think the milk isn't doing its job.

How old is your little one?

Well done btw. Sounds like you're doing fabulously.

soremummy · 19/04/2008 15:30

think if i remember right 4months or just over 4 months.

how is little carrot?

VictorianSqualor · 19/04/2008 15:32

It could be a growth spurt, definitely, that wouldn't explain why she 'needed' the right breast after the left but not vice versa though.
Have you got any issues with your left breast? Any pains? I'm thinking maybe she could get less if you had a blocked duct or something, kind of like the difference between a fast/slow flow teat if they were bottles.
I'd call one of the BF helplines personally, they'll likely have dealt with similar often and know why it happens, the numbers are on my profile.

TheProdigalShow · 19/04/2008 15:32

Are you familiar with kellymom btw? Great website.

kellymom on fussing

verylittlecarrot · 19/04/2008 15:33

A couple of things you can try: sometimes it's the position rather than the boob they object to - so it's worth trying the left side in a rugby hold. This allows her to lie in the same position as if she were feeding on the right.

Also, if you co-sleep, you could try going to sleep with the left boob facing her so that the majority of the night feeds are stimulating that side.

There's always pumping too (if you want to and are concerned enough - personally I detest it though)

babycarrot had a slight left boob preference at first, then developed a right boob preference later on!

VictorianSqualor · 19/04/2008 15:33

Meant to add, it could just be a comfort thing, the way she is sat/laying when she feeds from the other side, have you tried different positioning?

VictorianSqualor · 19/04/2008 15:33

x-post VLC, great minds

TheProdigalShow · 19/04/2008 15:36

Oh I agree also.

Had to use the rugby hold on the left side or she refused completely. She was very stuck during a long labour (em cs eventually) and had a very bruised head and ventouse tears on one side which started the habit I think.

verylittlecarrot · 19/04/2008 15:37

Hi soremummy - babycarrot doing fab, thanks. Has a tooth (and is using it - ouch
) and is close to 15 lb by now - must weigh her again...

rascal, do rty not to worry yourself unduly. Supply is flexible in both directions, so even if your left side was slowing a touch, you can still bring it back, so don't panic.

Original poster

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 17:36

Thanks everyone. She is 18 weeks old today. But only 9 weeks corrected....not sure how growth spurts work for her ie at actual or corrected age

I've looked on kellymom and have tried rugby hold etc not to any great effect tbh.

I'm just going with the flow with her. I'm at the GP on Monday and HV on Tuesday so if no improvement will ask them their opinion.

Also getting her weighed on Tuesday so can check she is putting on enough then.

She has got a sore bum atm so think that could be causing her to be a bit fussy too.

OP posts:

Clydesdaleclopper · 19/04/2008 22:35

DS did this until I took him to a cranial osteopath. She discovered that he couldn't turn his head to one side as easily and that when he opened his jaw it was slightly crooked. Apparently this is quite common. It would be worth taking her to a CO.

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